contemporary views – 1988 award winners - American Iris Society

egistered: ANN BLOCHER (Blocher 1990). Clarence has named this in honor and memory of his late wife. ‘Ann
Blocher’, entered by Dale Satterwhite for Mr. Blocher, won Best Seedling at the Tulsa show. It was such an incredible
show stalk that it would have easily been a contender (or winner) of the Queen of Show honors, had it been introduced. It
is a big, full formed cold white with a self beard, completely adorned with light ruffling and heavy lace. In spite of the
intensity of the lace, the flowers open with ease with no “assistance” required. From totally different bloodlines than the
Schreiners’ laced whites and last year’s L’Elegante recipient, ‘Bubbling Lace’ (Black). It comes from the laced blue
classic, ‘Charisma’ (Blocher), and should not even be compared, for it is a totally different style than ‘Bubbling Lace’ and
the others. It also inherited ‘Charisma’s’ candelabra show stalk branching.
Runnersup:
VICTORIAN FRILLS (Black 1988) is the ultimate in smoothness in light peach-apricot tones. The broad flowers have
perfect symmetry, and as with ‘Ann Blocher’, open easily and gracefully in spite of the heavy lace. A shorter variety from
strong Kegerise bloodlines; I have no problem with its height. The branching is perfectly spaced. I usually find those
with triple sockets to be objectionable because the third bud in the socket rarely develops to a representative flower. Such
was not the case with ‘Victorian Frills’. SHEER CLASS (L. Miller 1988) is a new SDB that took us by storm. A rich
rose-pink that is actually approximating watermelon in color, with a hint of a ray pattern in the falls surrounding bright
corals beards. Although from “mixed” breeding -- the small-flowered IB, ‘Pink Kitten’ (Wood), crossed by the great SDB
parent, ‘Inscription’ (Boushay) -- I found the flower size, foliage, height, and thickness of the stalks to be at the upper range
of the SDBs, but still well within the class requirements, and the specimen viewed was grown in rich soil. The substance
and texture are especially noteworthy. A perfect name for a median that will remain popular for years to come.
CHURCHILL DOWNS (K. Mohr 1988) is a clean, pleasant, medium lemon yellow with a patch of lighter color (near
white) in the center of the falls around yellow beards. The emphasis here is on the form and the diamond dusting of the
flowers which aid it in remaining colorfast here. Moderate lace on all parts. Average branching and bud count that is a bit
lean (5 buds this year), but the length of time the flowers remain open compensates. The flowers also retain their substance
until they fold, which is most commendable in this color.
3. The 9-1-1 AWARD is given to the New Iris that is the most significant hybridizing achievement or color break. This
year’s winner is the new Space Age iris, CONJURATION (Byers 1989). As viewed in Memphis at the master planting
at Ketchum, it was a tall, commanding “amoena” in the tradition of its parent, ‘Alpine Castle’ (Blyth), but with
drastically improved form. The stalks were somewhat thin, but tall and stately, and holding up average sized flowers with
no problem in light rain and wind. Exceptionally vigorous and floriferous, it makes a smashing clump, but I feel it will
also consistently produce show stalks. The color scheme is basically a white infused lilac-lavender, with the falls heavily
washed on the edges in amethyst in the style of ‘Planned Treasure’ (Burger) or ‘Fuji’s Mantle’ (Schreiner). All of this is
capped with consistent, bright tangerine beards and horns! A great breakthrough.
Runnersup:
DANCE AWAY (Hamblen 1988). Although the henna/sienna bearded burnished look is becoming more common now,
‘Dance Away’ still deserves attention as a color break. Rich cocoa-pink is infused with violet undertones.
Complementary warm ivory white falls are then banded with the principal color. All this is capped with sizzling deep
sienna beards. You just won’t believe it until you see it. Of course the form, substance, and plant habits are up to
contemporary standards – it’s a Hamblen iris! Another Byers Space Age introduction receives the next runnerup position:
LOVEBIRD (1988), my personal favorite of Monty’s Space Age releases so far. It is a short, small-flowered, delicate pink
based plicata, stitched in harmonious light red-violet, with fuzzy red-violet horns. The flowers are laced and have
exceptionally good form and substance. And PURGATORY (Moores 1987) is technically a variegata, but unlike anything
on the market. Average plants and stalks produce flowers that are smoldering, with shades of deep bronze in the standards
and deeper, even richer falls. The whole flower is underlaid with tones of bronze, mahogany, and burnished reds and
bronzes. The substance and resistance to inclement weather are especially noteworthy in this completely sunfast new iris.
4. The SUN BELT AWARD is given to the Best Proven variety, i.e., one that has been on the market at least 4 years.
This year’s selection was the most difficult of all awards to decide, with the nod finally going to HOUDINI (Maryott
1985). It resembles its pod parent, ’Midnight Special’ (Sexton), in basic color scheme, being a rich deep violet with even
deeper falls. The whole flower has gloss like nail polish, and the falls very nearly approach a shiny black. The branching is
somewhat variable, but it has stronger plants that are more resistant to late freezes and less prone to rot than ‘Midnight
Special’. It is gratefully an earlier bloomer than most of the blacks on the market. It is simply smashing both in the
garden and on the show bench.
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